Having options for managing diabetes is important because people are different and have different needs. This is also important for children who have diabetes, some of whom do not want to wear an insulin pump. What’s great is that there are more options than just pens or syringes; there are also smart pens.
What exactly is a smart pen? It’s a device that allows you to track when the last injection was taken from the pen. This helps people know how much active insulin is still circulating, which is huge, because it can help prevent low blood sugars related to stacking insulin or overcorrecting. A few different smart pens are available, depending on where you live. The first generation included the NovoPen Echo, which displays the last time a bolus was given.1
Other smart pens have more sophisticated features that make them very comparable to the functions of an insulin pump.2 For example, you can input personalized settings such as insulin to carb ratios, correction factors, etc., and it will calculate recommended doses for you.2
Smart pens also have the following possible features:2
- Smartphone app connected to the pen
- Insulin calculator functions, where you can include personalized settings
- Tracking of data to help manage patterns
- Ease of sending data to the health care team
- Alerts and reminders
| Brand of Pen | Compatible Devices | Phone Requirements | Additional Features |
| Bigfoot Unity | Libre 2 sensor, connected meter, many insulin pens | iPhone | Can use both long-acting and rapid-acting insulins, different colored caps for long vs. rapid-acting |
| Lilly Tempo | Dexcom CGM, Lilly insulins | Android or iPhone compatible | Cap for pen that transmits the data, long and rapid-acting insulins, can log dietary data |
| Medtronic InPen | Medtronic Guardian Connect, Dexcom for iOS | iPhone or Android compatible | Alerts for temperature concerns for insulin pen, rapid-acting insulin only |
While smart insulin pens seem like a great idea for children, there is not much data about their use by children. The team at NYU Pediatric Diabetes Center published a review of the data on Smart Pens. It included experiences they have had in their clinic to help encourage more healthcare providers to offer this option to their families.
If a smart pen could benefit you or your family, talk to your health care team to see if they have any experience using such devices. You can also look at the manufacturers’ websites for more information.
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Written and clinically reviewed by Marissa Town, RN, BSN, CDCES